Prepayment-meter.



No. 6555842. Patented Aug. I4, |900.

F. WEEGMANN.

PREPAYMENT METER.

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 sheets-shet l.

No. 655,842. PatentedAug. I4, |900.

F. WEEGMANN.

PREPAYMENT METER.'

(Application filed Mar. 20, 1899,) V (No Medel.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

Hill' "Il llllllw i .ma ssrn,

FREDERICK W'EEGMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CALIFORNIA PRE-PAYMENT METER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PREPAYM ENT-IVI ETER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,842, dated August 14, 190D. Application filed March 20,l899. Serial No. 709,833. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom. it may aendern.- ycoin-controlled mechanism; but I can use Be it known that I, FREDERICK WEEGMANN, other coin apparatus.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanl In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and a meter of the kind specially referred to pro- State of California, have invented certain new @vided with a casing for supporting and con 55 and useful Improvements in Prepayment-Wieltainin g the coin mechanism, such casing beters, of which the following is aspecilication. ,ing partlybroken away. Fig. 2 is a bottom My :invention relates to prepayment gasplan of the same with both the meter and the meters in which the dropping of a coin and' said casing partly broken away. Fig. 3 is an ro the manipulation of a coin-controlled appa= end elevation looking toward the right side 6o ratus render the gas-pressure available in the of Fig. l and also broken away. Fig. 4 is a meter, while by a reciprocal action of the gas broken top plan. Fig. 5 is a detail view of its pressure is rendered unavailable after the the sliding rack controlled by the coin mechprepaid supply has been furnished. anism and the lock-actuating device operated The object of my invention is to providethereby. Fig. 6 is a detail section 'of the 65 means for locking the diaphragm or diascrew-shaft bearing. phragms of a meter and for automatically un- A and A represent the two parts of the locking it or them, and I desire to distinguish meter, which are convex plates secured tomy invention from those in which the action gether at meeting iianges by bolts or screws 2o of the coin apparatus opens a valve which is l. Such plates are preferably of circular 7o afterward closed bythe reciprocal action of form, and in the chamber formedv by them the gas-pressure. I do notapply acoin-conwhen.' united is clamped the yielding diatrolled apparatus tothe gas-valve, but to the phragm B, which divides said chamber into diaphragms of a meter in orderto lock such :two compartments, to 'which the gas is alterdiaphragms normally, to unlock them by ma- Anately admitted and from which alternately 75 nipulation of `the coin mechanism, so that it escapes. Formed with the meter-plates are the gas-pressure canl operate, and to relockV the valve-chambers C C, each closed by a cap them automatically at the end ofthe recipro- D. This structure is in communication with cal action of the gas-pressure during which the gas-pipe E through openings in the caps 3o the prepaid amount of gas has been supplied. D, the gas entering the meter at one side and 8o My invention does not therefore affect the escaping through the other. In each valvegas-inlet valve, which indeed may be open chamber is a partition 2, having ports 3 4, and admitting gas, although without producwhich are alternately opened and closed bythe ing any effect upon the meter-register, since valves 5 and 6. The valves at one end are conthe primary operating means are normally nected to corresponding valves at ithe other 85 locked. y 1 lend by valve-rods 7 and) 8, and both valves at As-a matter of convenience in illustration eaclrend are connected together byapivoted and description I have shown my invention link- 9. Thus the valve system is operated as a as applied to meters of a type having a single whole by motion communicated to one of the 4o diaphragm; but I can apply it to meters of valverods. The means for operating the 9o other types with a plurality of diaphragms, valve-rods are best illustrated in Figs. 3 and the essential feature of my invention being 4, and I have shown them fully in order to to lock such diaphragms and not to operate a illustrate completely the relation of the coin.- valve. actuated device with a meter of this type. It

I have in the following specification demust be understood,`however, that the gen- 93 scribed and'in the accompanying drawings eral construction of the meter and the means have illustrated a meter of the type referred for operatingits system of valves form `no part to, which in itselfforms no part of my invenof myinvention exceptingin combination with tion and to which I lay no claim. I have also a coin-actuated mechanism applied thereto.

5o described and shown a particular kind of Asliding barFis attached to the diaphragm, roo

which extends at right angles thereto into a casin g G,secured tothe meter and which moves freely when impelled by the diaphragm between guide-rollers 10. To this bar are secured oppositely-placed springs 11 and 12, whose free ends are connected to the bar 13, which slides at right angles to bar F between guiderollers 14:. A lever 15 connects the bar 13 to the valve-rod 7. The bar 13 is normally stopped by the bar F during the motion of the latter; but at each end of such motion a slot j' in bar F permits the bearing-shoulder of bar 13 to pass. At each eXtreme of motion one of the springsisundercompression,and hence forces the bar 13 through the slot and communicates motion to valve-rod 7 and to all the valves.

When gas isadmitted to one side of the diaphragm, as by the valve 5, Fig. 2, the diaphragm is forced in one direction until the valve-actuating devices just described operate, closing the valve 5 and opening Valve 6. The gas then enters on the other side of the diaphragm and impels it in the opposite direction, the motion of the diaphragm back and forth being continuons so long as the gas is entering the meter.

The consumption of gas is registered byany suitable dial-train connected to indicatingdials visible on the outside of the case, as shown in Fig. 1. This mechanism is not shown in detail, as it forms no part of my invention; but I have illustrated fully the connections which make it operative, because Such connections have an important relation to the coin-actuated mechanism.

By referenceto Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that a shaft H, which operates the register, is provided with a ratchet-Wheel 16. Adouble pawl 17 engages opposite sides of the ratchet, which is actuated by a bell-crank 13. One arm of this bell-crank is tubular to receive a rod 19, connected to the slide-bar F. The rod 19, fitting easily in the tube, communicates motion derived from the bar F to the bell-crank, and so to the ratchet and register-train, and this result is produced at both movements of the bar F.

In applying coin-controlled mechanism according to my present invention the gasvalves are not directly affected; but it is my purpose to unlock and automatically lock the mechanism which derives motion from the meter diaphragm or diaphragms and not to cut od the gas from the meter.

I do not Wish to limit myself to any particular form or construction of coin-controlled mechanism, but I prefer to use and have illustrated to a sufficient extent the device shown in Letters yPatent granted to the California Pre-Payment Meter Company, as assignee of Anselm C. Hammond, Jr., and myself, November 15, 1898, and numbered 614,103. Figs. l and 2 illustrate the external features of this device, and the same figures in connection with Figs. 3 and 5 show the essential parts of its internal construction. I represents the outer casin g of the coin mechanism,

J the operating-handle, and 2O the external coin-slot.

Without describing in detail the operation of the coin device, it is sufficient for present purposes to say that When a coin of proper denomination has been supplied and the handle J turned motion is communicated to the ratchet 2l and gears 22 23, Figs. 2 and 3. By coin-controlled mechanism it will be understood that I include only the mechanism located in the casing I, the operating-handle J, and the gear 22 rotated thereby. The gear 23 is fixed on the screw-shaft K, bearings for it being formed in a supporting-bracket 24. Engaging with the screw K is a cross-head L, movable in both directions by the screw and guided by the rods 25. The relation of the coin mechanism controlled by the handle J to the screw-shaft and intermediate gearing is such that the turning of the handle as far as it will go in one direction willl move the crosshead L a certain distance upon its guides, and this distance bears a definite relation to the amount of gas paid for a-nd is indicated by a pointer M, attached to the cross-head and indicating on a visible scale on the edge of a slot 26, through which such pointer projects, Fig. 2. On the cross-head and opposite this pointer is a projection 27, engaging With a rack 2S, the rack Workingin a guide 29 (compare Figs. 2 and 5) and having the same motion as the cross-head. With this rack engages at proper times a partial gear 30, having a lever 3l, to which is pivoted a rod 32, which extends into that part of the casing which contains the bar F, operated by the meter-diaphragm. The rod 32 has a loose connection with a Weighted bell-crank N, one arm of which is a bolt 33, Which enters a hole in the bar F and locks it, as shown in Fig. 1, thus locking the diaphragm.

In the drawings the device is shown in normal locked position, and it cannot be unlocked until the coin mechanism is properly operated. Supposing a coin to have been dropped and the handle J turned, the crosshead L is moved to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 and the rack 2S to the right in Fig. 5. The rack being at this time engaged with the partial gear 30 turns the latter sufficiently to Withdraw the bolt from the bar F, thus freeing the meter mechanism, which commences to operate. The bolt 33 is held out because the disengaged tooth of partial gear 30 is now riding on the plain face of rack 28. The mete'r mechanism now commences to operate the screw-shaft K in the opposite direction, and thus to gradually restore the cross-head to its normal position, which is attained when the prepaid amount of gas has been supplied. This is accomplished by gearing interposed between the screw-shaft and the register-shaft H, Fig. 1. On the end of the shaft H is a Worm 34, which engages With a pinion 35 on a counter-shaft 36. A similar Worm 37 on shaft 36 meshes With a pinion 38 on the screw-shaft K and turns the latter in IOC a direction opposite to that derived from the coin mechanism. The cross-head and the rack 2S commence to move slowly back to ward normal position or zero-point on theA scale until the toothed part of the rack-bar engages the partial gear. This throws up the rod 32 and causes the bolt 33 to engage with the bar F as the hole in the latter registers with such bolt. The weighted bell-crank assists in maintaining the lock. The meter is now set and locked with the coin-scale at zero, and although gas may enter at one side of the diaphragm it cannot escape nor can the diaphragm be operated.

In Fig. 6 is shown a detail of the end of the screw-shaft K and a frictional connection between it and the pinion 33. The shaft has a bearing in a sleeve 39, and between such sleeve and shaft are frictional contact-surfaces 40 4l. The sleeve is journaled in the bracket 24 and is held in place by a screw 42. The pinion 3S is fixed on sleeve 39. Since pinion 38 engages with a worin-gear, the frietion is powerless when the coin device is actuated; but in the opposite direction the screw-shaft will be turned through the frictional Contact.

As I have before intimated, I do not limit myself to a coin apparatus in combination with the particular meter shown, which I have illust-rated as typical of one kind of meter to which my invention is applicable. Nor do I limit myself to the particular coin mechanism shown, although I prefer to use it. Neither do I limit myself to exact details of construction and arrangement described and shown, as I desire to avail myself of such modifications and equivalents as fall properly within the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimy as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a meter having a diaphragm operated by gas-pressure, of a bar connected to said diaphragm and adapted to be reciprocated as said diaphragm vibrates, gas inlet and outlet valves, means interposed between the same and said bar and controlled by the latter for operating said valves, means for locking and releasing said bar, and coincontrolled mechanism for controlling the latter, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a gas=-meter having a diaphragm, of a bar connected to said diaphragm, gas inlet and outlet valves controlled by the movement of said rod, a locking-bolt adapted to engage said bar, coin-controlled mechanism and means interposed between said mechanism and said bolt for operating the latter, substantially as described.

In combination with a gas-meter having a diaphragm, of a bar connected to said diaphragm, gas inlet and outlet valves controlled by the movement of said rod, a locking-bolt adapted to engage said bar, coin-controlled mechanism, a screw-shaft adapted to be op- `erated from the coin-controlled mechanism,

a cross-head operated by said screw and means operated by said cross-head for controlling said bolt, substantially as described.

et. In combination with a gas-meter, having a diaphragm, of a bar connected to said diaphragm, gas inlet and outlet valves controlled by the movement of said rod, a locking-bolt adapted to engage said bar, coin-controlled mechanism, a screwshaft,a cross-head, a rack adapted to be shifted thereby, a gear meshing with said rack and a connection between said gear and said locking-bolt, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a gas-meter having a diaphragm, of gas inlet and outlet valves, a bar secured to said diaphragm, means interposed between the same and said valves for operating the latter, a locking-bolt for said bar, coin-controlled mechanism, means operated therefrom for releasing said lockingbolt, a register-shaft operated from said bar, and connections interposed between said shaft and the releasing means for the locking-bolt for rengaging the latter.

6. In combination in a gas-meter having a diaphragm, gas inlet and outlet valves, a bar secured to said diaphragm, means interposed between the same and said valves for operating the latter, coin-controlled mechanism, a locking-bolt for said bar, a screw-shaft rotated from the coin-controlled mechanism in one direction, means interposed between the screw and the locking-bolt for controlling the latter, a register-shaft, means operated from said bar for rotating the same, and gearing interposed between said register-shaft and said screw for rotating the latter in an opposite direction to the direction in which it is rotated by the coin-controlled mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of March, 1899.

FREDERICK WEEGMANN.

Witnesses:

L. W. SEELY,

Gno. T. KNOX. 

